My name is Shane Valdez and I am concerned citizen that is passionate about politics. I am currently working for the campaign of Blake Cummings who is running against Tom Cole in District 4 of Oklahoma. I have become extremely concerned with the Republicans that have remained in DC to protest and demand that the democrats bring Congress back into session to have an up and down vote on drilling in ANWR and the Outer Shelf. The energy crisis is much more complex than a simple up and down vote on drilling. We cannot allow the Republicans to hijack the energy issue by exploiting our struggles at the pump. However, I do believe that the Democrats should have a strong counter attack ready in case this movement gains ground amongst the general public.
I think that the voting records of those that are protesting should be highly scrutinized in order to find out how they voting on key energy issues over the past 7 years. For example, how did they vote when raising fuel efficiency standards was on the table? If they are so concerned with the problems that Americans are facing at the pumps, why did they vote against raising fuel efficiency standards. If they are so concerned with struggling American families, why did they vote against the minimum wage raise? How have they voted on increasing funding and tax rebates for alternative fuels and research? Where were they when the American people needed them for those votes? They weren't there for us when we needed better mileage in our vehicles or better paychecks to deal with rising costs. But as soon as there is something in it for the oil companies, they are ready to go to bat supposedly for the American people. We have to expose these protesting Republicans for the hypocrites that they are. Where would GM and Ford be today had Congress raised fuel efficiency standards a few years back? Instead, now they are fighting not to go into bankruptcy. The same way that the Bush administration exploited the American public after 9/11 to make a power grab in all aspects of our government and executive privilege, the Republicans are trying to exploit the economic crisis that Americans are facing at the pump and in all aspects of life to make a power grab for the oil companies.
I am against drilling in the currently restricted areas of our country, but I feel that because of right wing propaganda, this election may hinge on that issue. The vote for drilling in these areas may be what the uninformed public wants. What is the strategy to counter this?
I think the Democrats are in a similar situation that the Republicans were in just before they lost office in 2006 when the public wanted a vote on the minimum wage issue, so they presented a minimum wage bill with the elimination of the inheritance tax attached to it. They refused to give an up and down vote on minimum wage.They then accused the Democrats of not supporting a minimum wage increase and heralded themselves as the champions of the little people.
If it comes to the point where a vote is unavoidable, giving them an up or down vote should be out of the question.
I think the bill should be multi-faceted just as the energy issue is multi-faceted.
How about a drilling bill that is attached to things the Republicans would look bad voting against and would expose their true intent. Some of us could stomach drilling if the bill also raised fuel efficiency standards, only allowed companies to drill that gave a specific percentage of profits to alternative fuels research, did not allow these companies to sell the oil overseas, did not allow the debt owed for these leases to be forgiven as they were a few years back for drilling in the Outer Shelf, and did not allow the companies to sit on the leases without drilling just so nobody else drills them.
This election may hinge on the reaction given to the protesters in DC should their movement gain momentum. We need to be prepared to face them head on. Please let me know your thoughts about this topic.
Sincerely,
Shane Valdez
